Per-seat, on-demand charter operator DayJet has ceased operation. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company was in business barely a year, offering an air-taxi service covering much of the U.S. Southeast. DayJet blamed its September shutdown on its inability to arrange financing in the midst of the current global financial crisis.

A prominent aviation lawyer complained to me recently when his outraged client discovered he was being "back-to-backed." The lawyer wasn't pleased either, but he acknowledged that so-called back-to-back transactions are common in the business jet marketplace.

For those facing life-threatening diseases, war-related injuries or other equally devastating hardships, the holidays can be an especially difficult time. Here's one way you can lend a hand: Donate unused fractional flight hours to a charity that will use them on behalf of the needy.

Pilot and actor Harrison Ford has been named honorary chairman of Cessna Aircraft's 2010 Special Olympics Airlift. "It is an opportunity for Cessna to demonstrate [its] community-minded approach, and an opportunity for all of us in aviation to do something positive," said Ford.

Besides significantly reducing wear and tear on an airplane, flying more efficiently cuts fuel consumption. That's no small benefit these days. But flying "smart" is just one way to combat pain at the pump.

Do you resort to charades to make yourself understood in countries where you don't speak the language? If so, you'll appreciate ICOON, a book based on an idea so simple you'll wonder why no one thought of it before.

A new Transportation Security Administration notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) aims to curb terrorism but could also put the brakes on business aviation. The proposal has the potential to ground every general aviation aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds-in other words, the vast majority of the current business aviation fleet.

Revenues are down, the financial future is foggy and the bean counters are glaring at the line items associated with your corporate aircraft. Fending off the accountants can be tough, but it's certainly worth the effort because of the time saving, privacy, flexibility and security that business jets provide.
Here are seven strategies that can deliver significant savings: